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Important Note: Because we can't always determine your intentions, we need to ask a favor of you when you send us email. If you DO NOT WANT YOUR EMAIL PUBLISHED in the Mailbag or in the Contributors section, please write "CONFIDENTIAL" in the Subject line or at the top of your email. That way we'll know it's just a comment to BuzzFlash. Additionally, if you submit a mailbag item and DO NOT WANT YOUR NAME associated with your submission, sign your email, "A BuzzFlash Reader." If you send email unsigned, we will post your name with your submission, or, if that's not available, your email name (not the full address, just what's on the left side of the email address). Please try and keep your word count under 500. We can only post a small percentage of what is sent to us. The opinions expressed in the Mailbag are not necessarily those of BuzzFlash. Thanks again for your email and your patience.

Dear BuzzFlash,

Is it my ineffective searching of only 2 US newspapers, NY Times and Washington Post, or is it the case that US media is not covering Powell's use of inappropriate "intelligence" materials?

Thanks,

Anne V. Masters

YT Cai

Subj: A Call to Prayer

Dear BuzzFlash,

I received the following e-mail from the President of Family Christian Stores. I was thoroughly disgusted to see that this man used the mailing list of this company to send out e-mails praising George W. Bush as a man a faith and claiming God put him in the White House. I responded with my feelings of disgust telling the President of Family Christian Stores that he had his facts wrong. George W. Bush stole the election to get into the White House - God didn't put him there. I further referred him to Bush's association with the Rev. Moon of the "Moonie" cult and his membership in the Skull and Bones organization of Yale.

I asked the President of Family Christian Stores what part of "Thou shalt not kill" Bush didn't understand. And yes, I told him I am praying. I am praying for protection from the war hungry man in the White House and that we don't give blood for oil.

Audrey Wilson

----- Original Message -----
From: "Family Christian Stores"
< FamilyChristianStores@fcsdirect.familychristian.com>
To:
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 1:17 PM
Subject: A Call to Prayer

> Dear Audrey,
>
> I saw today on the news that President Bush has openly asked
> for prayer. How amazing and wonderful that he would do that.
> It moved me such that I wanted to share that request with
> everyone we could and in that light, I hope you don't mind
> "yet another email."
>
> Mindful of the current situation with Iraq, our President
> has requested the prayers of those he has been called to
> lead. On behalf of Family Christian Stores and
> FamilyChristian.com, I would like to encourage you to take
> time this evening, or in the days ahead, to gather with your
> household in prayer for the leadership of our nation.
>
> President Bush specifically requests prayer for:
>
> - Wisdom for he and his advisors as he considers leading
> the effort to disarm Saddam in light of the safety of our
> people and the peace of the world.
>
> - The soldiers who are being deployed to be acutely aware of
> the value of their training, their honor and the
> appreciation of the American people. May God's strength,
> help and protection literally dwell with our troops.
>
> - The leaders of the FBI, the CIA, Homeland Security and the
> Department of Defense as they follow the President's
> orders to develop a Terrorist Threat Integration Center
> that will gather and analyze information about all kinds
> of threats to America in one place. Pray that God will
> guide them in the process of making our nation safe from
> terrorist threats.
>
> - For our nation, pray that America will realize that it is
> mightiest when on its knees. May this be the year that
> America turns back to God.
>
> Thank you for your time and concern. We are grateful that
> God has placed a man of faith in the White House and we
> celebrate the freedom we enjoy in America to pray openly.
> May God continue to bless America.
>
> An American and Brother in Christ,
>
> Dave Browne
> President & CEO
> Family Christian Stores

Subj: Thank You!

Dear BuzzFlash,

Thanks for the 'heads up' on Clinton appearing on the Larry King show Thursday.

What a pleasure it was to listen to such a proven authority on matters of national importance, from terrorism to No. Korea. Clinton left nothing to the imagination of the viewer. He explained many things so that we understood his opinions and statements. What else would we expect from a Rhodes Scholar and respected round the world president! After being exposed to three years of Georgie (who sounds like he graduated from the University of Storm Doors and Windows) listening to Clinton was like being served strawberry shortcake, minus the calories!

When the commercials came on, I flipped over to MSNBC to see how John Edwards was fairing with (the prosecutor) Chris Matthews. Matthews was badgering Edwards with hard-core questions that he wouldn't dare ask republicans. From what I saw, Edwards was pretty well holding his own and the North Carolina Central University audience cheered Edwards on.

~ Cathy

Subj: Pink for Peace

Dear Buzz:

I would like to use your forum to urge all who support the vigil for peace in front of the White House, to wear pink.

Chicago Tribune | A vigil in pink
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/women/chi-0302050012feb05,1,2801741.story

It offers the opportunity to make a statement every day supporting peace.

Males can wear pink shirts, ties, and/or socks.

As some of us have learned accidentally, you can turn white things pink by washing them with red clothes, or buy some pink dye.

Pass this on to anyone who wants our government to seek a peaceful resolution to the Iraqi situation.

We can make a difference.

Thanks, Buzz for the huge contribution you make to keeping us informed.

Jane

Subj: Former CIA Officers Question Gulf War II

Friends,

Here is an significant development the press should follow closely.

A group of former CIA officers has formed to question the rush by President Bush to launch an offensive war against Iraq.

The views of former CIA officers becomes critical because Secretary of State Powell's comments to the UN are tarnished -- some of his sources were lifted from a discredited UK report.

Read about the new organization, "Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity," in an exclusive article at Veterans for Common Sense.

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/article.asp?id=358

Thank you.

Paul Sullivan

Subj: Michael Savage

I just read that Michael Savage, perhaps the worst ultraconservative screamer on the air, is going to be featured on MSNBC.

A few years ago, I used to listen to Savage on my car radio once in awhile in order to see what outrage he was committing lately. When I heard him call those who live in the Third World "the mud people," I turned off the radio in disgust and have not listened to this neo-Nazi since. Here's the story about MSNBC:

Article Link

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Anti-War Slogan

Every true Christian is a fighting pacifist.

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." -- Albert Einstein

A BuzzFlash Reader

Dear BuzzFlash,

Could it be that the sudden upgrade in the terror alert is in part an attempt to deflect attention from the sham documents cited by the Secretary of State? Terror warnings have been used before to turn the public away from official embarrassments.

Dave Dempsey

Dear Buzzflash,

How about this headline (my invention - but OH how true):

"Bush raises terror alert level to move mainstream press past Powell's fraudulent report to UN."

Propaganda city.

Matt Kaune

Subj: Question for BuzzFlash Reader

First, watch this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/cta/progs/newsnight/smil/blair_03/blair.ram) appearance by Tony Blair in front of a live television audience, all of whom are hostile to his Iraq policy (indeed, so is the host). Then ask why, without benefit of a constitution and when he is under no obligation do to do, Blair for all his faults is willing to expose himself in this way, while our "commander in chief" is not?

Doug Bostrom

Subj: I can't even begin to believe it . . .

Dear BuzzFlash,

I would produce my own statement of condemnation here, but I shall leave that to Michael Moore's website of Homeland Security http://michaelmoore.com/homeland/index.php. It appears that New York City has rejected the Feb. 15 permit application to march in front of the United Nations.

I am personally shocked and horrified by such an action. I feared the subversion of the American consciousness was strong, but I would never have believed this.

United for Peace remains sure that the permit will eventually come through, and they plead that people continue with the plan as scheduled.

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?list=sub&sub=30

Geno Genasci

Dear BuzzFlash,

If everybody knew about the plagiarism by No.10 Downing St., and its acceptance, and possible connivance by the resident of our White House, and proposed, as truth, by the once-noble Colin Powell last Tuesday at the U.N., there would probably be thousands of protesters outside the U.N. by now, showing to the members and visitors the news from Channel 4 (English TV), and discrediting the presentation by Powell. Plagiarism is intellectual theft, and those responsible for stealing the articles, and publishing them without attribution should be punished. As it is, many many people are going to be punished by high explosives in Iraq unless somehow the word can be got out. I have read most of the articles, and printed the same, but on the face of the screen, there is no indication that I may forward it, and I wanted to send it to legislators. Will BuzzFlash get the word out, not just to its members, but to people who have some control of events - TV stations, all media. I depend now on BuzzFlash, and I thank Citizen Steve for pointing me in this direction.

Veronica Sissons

Subj: Looks like war is close

http://www.military.com/deployment

Total Reserve/Guard Active: 111,603

Change from Last Week: +16,979

Total Activated Members:

Army Natl. Guard & Reserve: 80,002
Navy Reserve: 5,604
Air Natl. Guard & AF Reserve: 11,729
Marine Corps Reserve: 12,283
Coast Guard Reserve: 1,985

Cumulative Roster of National Guard and Reserve Currently on Active Duty

Robert Reynolds

Subj: Un-American

Hi Buzz,

Subject: Un-American, Un-Patriotic, Un-Crazy

I'm getting really confused about what Un-American and Un-Patriotic means. It's like being accused of being a LIBERAL(!!!!). I would like some of the people who love hurling these "insults" at everyone to explain what is unpatriotic about believing that war is not glamorous. What exactly is un-American or pro-Terrorism if you don't believe that it's our God Mandated American Birth Right (because God says so, by golly) to wage preemptive war on entirely innocent people just to get one man and his oil fields. Doesn't God love those innocent people too?

I would like someone, maybe Mr. Limbaugh, or Mr. O'Reilly or Dubya, and Cheney, et all to enlighten me and all those of us who believe our country (by dint of being the most powerful and deadly nation this world has ever known) has the OBLIGATION to preserve and even to foment world peace in every possible way it can. Just to, say, preserve the planet for starters.

And while they are at it I would like to have them explain why salivating at the idea of dropping hundreds of bombs on innocent people is considered the height of patriotism and vaunted by them to be The American Way as opposed to the unpatriotic and un-American beliefs of those of us who believe peaceful avenues are infinitely preferable.

Let me see if I get this right. If you're for bombing everyone and everything just because you feel like it then you're a true patriot, but if you think the US has no business being an invading, destructive Empire and the World Bully and that it can actually make the entire world a better place through trying peaceful methods first then you're unpatriotic? Is this right?

Then count me Un-Patriotic,

Judith Foster

Subj: Can't we organize . . .

an effort to stop the sponsors of the Bill O'Reilly show? I am tired to that guy - who invites people on his show and then, if he disagrees with them, berates them, interrupts them, and generally behaves poorly.

Susan Lefler
Austin, Texas

Dear BF,

I assume this is one way to express an opinion.

During the Vietnam disaster, I thought of a fairly simple way to end the war. It was called Positive Spending for Peace, a variation on a number of "you don't have to buy war, Mrs. Jones" type campaigns. The notion was that if everyone opposed to our policy in Vietnam simply refrained from buying any consumer durables, but instead channeled some of the money into real social needs (of their choice) that were suffering as a result of our grotesque priorities, even as few as 10 to 15 percent of the consuming public could bring the nation's economy to a halt. The White House would have to listen. A number of economists and others across the country signed on, but not enough. Today, the monstrous Bush-led policies promise to have even more damaging consequences, domestically and beyond. And the social fabric of our nation is in near tatters. And further, I suspect that opposition to today's "March of Folly" has far support than was the case with Vietnam. In an odd way, it would be quite simple for the American public to "spend" its way out of this folly.

David

Dear BuzzFlash,

I am not a fan of Tom Daschle's but he has my sympathy. This period of our history is unlike any other except perhaps, the McCarthy era......however worse! The corporate media, right-wingers,the Republican party, and dedicated freepers and mailers of anthrax have threatened Democratic leaders into oblivion. Face it folk, Daschle is probably frightened for his life. Remember when he did complain about what the right wing media was doing to him and his family, they responded by calling him a crybaby (Tucker Carlson, for one). The right wing media is well organized. Whatever lie/message that they want to put out on someone sticks....ie..Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, John McCain, etc. They will tell a lie and the regular media will pass it on as truth. I feel as if I am getting a dose of what happened to the Germans during Hitler's reign. Regular Americans who don't read from other sources ( like on the internet) only get the news that this administration wants them to have. It's so sad to hear so-called intelligent people claiming that this president knows what's best for the country and that we should keep quiet and follow his leadership.....huh??? Please pray for America.

Dee Turner
Atlanta

Subj: Guernica

That is it then. That is the test of whether or not a war is justified. If the representative of a country cannot stand before the uncovered Guernica in the sight of the world and call for a war then that war is not justified.

Donna Lively

Dear BuzzFlash,

I was waiting all day to listen to Sephen Pellitieri explain to Lester Holt why the Halajba gassing was not the way it happened according to the Bush junta. When the ex-cia agent started explaining his reasons including casting doubts on Mr. Powell's veracity, Mr. Holt cut off the interview, which lasted less than two minutes, they have been hyping this interview all day and then they suddenly cut it off? Some one got to them.

Sincerely,

Jon Sebastian

Subj: Guernica by Piccasso

Dear Buzz,

I studied the picture by Picasso, and found that Guernica had breasts in it. I think that is why it was covered up by the Republicans. After all, does anyone really think any of them are sophisticated enough to actually read the intent of the piece?

Buzz Reader
with breasts

Subj: Orange Alert

Good Evening, BuzzFlash -

I'm wondering how many others are thinking with me that the new *orange terror alert* could have something to do with 'wagging the dog'? Wouldn't now be a wonderful time for Bush and Co. to frighten us all into wanting war with Iraq? GWB and posse frighten me more every day.

Marilyn in California

Subj: Quote of the Day

"I never cared about money. But, I needed it. I had big legal bills to pay and other expenses when I left office. But I'm grateful for what I have and I think we should pay our fair share. We're supposed to be fighting terror. And the only people not asked to sacrifice are the people who benefited most from the American dream. It's not right."

-- Bill Clinton, last night's Larry King Live

http://www.bartcop.com/

Chewgababy

"We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people."

-- John F. Kennedy

Forwarded by Jane O. Gutierrez

Subj: More constitution mess . . .

Where are the sleeping democrats again? Where is our mute paid off press? We are now trying to get the patriots act reinforced, to totally do away with our freedoms and const. I can't understand why there is no howling about IMPEACHMENT. How long is this dictatorial admin going to run amuck.

Ed Peltz

Subj: Psy-Ops

Dear BuzzFlash;

I just had a thought that probably has occurred to many others. Did the administration raise the threat level indicator, in combination with New York's refusal to issue a permit, to keep anti-war protesters away from New York next week? The New York Sun's editorial praising Mayor Bloomberg and others for waiting as long as possible to issue the permit to keep the crowd numbers down, and references to a "possible threat against places where there may be large groups of people or symbolic structures" (like the UN building where the protest march is to pass) seems to me to be a well coordinated psy-op. Take these statements made by Ashcroft and Ridge today:

"Since September the 11th, the U.S. intelligence community has indicated that the Al Qaida terrorist network is still determined to attack innocent Americans, both here and abroad. Recent reporting indicates an increased likelihood that Al Qaida may attempt to attack Americans in the United States and/or abroad in or around the end of the Hajj, a Muslim religious period ending mid-February 2003." (I added the bold.)

ASHCROFT: Recent intelligence reports suggests that Al Qaida leaders have emphasized planning for attacks on apartment buildings, hotels and other soft or lightly secured targets in the United States.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Longest Oxymoron

We have to give up these rights (the constitution) to protect our freedoms.

Ed Peltz

Subj: National Guard reason

Dear BuzzFlash:

Maia of FailureIsImpossible explains the unusual deployment of National Guard overseas:

Bush is deploying the National Guard because otherwise he'd have to reinstate the draft, at which point even CNN wouldn't be able to hide the real totals of people in the anti-war demonstrations.

---

I guess this is why the military wants total access to HS students, too -- to recruit as many as possible to delay the draft?

Still wondering,

~~robyn su

Dear BuzzFlash,

Like Nancy Lynn Nagy (BuzzFlash Mailbag 2/7), I received a letter from Terry McAuliffe asking for funds for the DNC. I wrote him back saying I would not donate into a general fund, but would only donate directly to Democrats that spoke and acted like Democrats. The other day I received a letter signed by Tom Daschle asking for funds to take back the Senate. I sent back the uncompleted donation card with a note saying I would not donate into a general fund, but would only donate directly to Democrats who spoke and acted like Democrats and not like far-right republicans. I also said I considered it an insult that this letter was from Daschle, since he has been supporting baby bush for the last two years. Perhaps if enough of us sent back uncompleted donation cards with notes expressing our views, it would be more noticeable than if we just didn't send them back at all.

For those of you who didn't see the article on the St. Louis Today web site, Democratic Senator Dick Durban (Illinois) has formed a group of progressive Senate Democrats "that he hopes will help craft a bolder, more aggressive agenda than the one the party took to voters before last November's election". The half dozen members include Senators Jon Corzine (New Jersey), Edward Kennedy (Massachusetts), and Russ Feingold (Wisconsin). Some of you may want to send them encouragement, as they are opposed by a group headed by Senator John Breaux (Louisiana) who want the Democratic message to be a centrist one, which is what I believe caused the Democrats to lose the Senate this last election. (Senators can be contacted by logging onto www.senate.gov)

R. M. Johnson

Fw: Saddam's Bomb Maker

Dear BuzzFlash,

For many years the US government poo-pooed the existence of Gulf War Syndrome, affecting American veterans of the war.

On Feb.7th CNN Crossfire, one guest was Khidhir Hamza who was Saddam's bomb maker who has written a book. Below is a Crossfire excerpt of Hamza's commentary on the Gulf War:

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0302/07/cf.00.html

BEGALA: Let me ask you about 1991. Saddam Hussein did not have a nuclear bomb. He did have chemical and biological weapons. He did not use them against American troops, not because I think he's a nice guy -- he certainly doesn't come off very nicely in your book -- but because he was deterred by the force of the American military. Will deterrence work again if we invade Iraq, or will we be hit with chemical and biological weapons?

HAMZA: No. Actually, he used them indirectly. What he did is placed them in the path of U.S. troops coming toward Baghdad. And it (UNINTELLIGIBLE) some of them. The (UNINTELLIGIBLE) explosions, which blew up a lot of gasses and around the American troops is probably the cause for the Gulf War syndrome now. Of course, you don't see it much in the American (UNINTELLIGIBLE), despite the recourse you have. (Cathy note: sounded like he said media before the word 'despite' to me.)

You see 10 times as much among the Iraqis in the region. Iraqi hospitals are full of people with cancers and all kind of diseases from the chemical weapons Saddam placed, presumably in the path for American troops. It was going (UNINTELLIGIBLE) them.

BEGALA: He will use them if we have another war?

HAMZA. The planning now, the Pentagon planning is to take care of this. There's a lot of planning to prevent...

(Carlson interrupted Hamza to close the show)

~ Cathy

Subj: Boycott O'Reilly

Dear BuzzFlash,

I read the 2 O'Reilly pieces with revulsion and disgust. Isn't it high time to start a boycott movement against his sponsors? Lets make him #2 on the hit parade after Limbaugh!

You guys are a beacon of light in the total media darkness we are now living in. Keep up the fantastic job you are doing! We contribute every time our budget allows.

Jack Gordon

Subj: Nancy Lynn Nagy's comment re Daschle

Buzz-

Thank you for posting Nancy Lynn Nagy's comment about Tom Daschle being an obstructionist. I had not thought about the situation in terms of him obstructing the Democratic agenda, but it actually is true in many cases.

This means that any leader is by necessity an obstructionist of sorts. The only question is who you are going to obstruct -- your own party's agenda or the opponent's agenda.

I personally think that Daschle thinks he is "compromising", but a true compromise actually advances your own agenda to some degree, although not as much as you would like. Clinton in my view advanced the Democratic agenda through compromise -- we ended up better off on many issues than where we started. With Daschle, it is just the opposite. That is sad.

MEB

Dear BuzzFlash,

"To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead."

-- Thomas Paine (1737 - 1809)

"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry."

-- Thomas Paine

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: New Powers Apply to All

Hi,

I wonder how all those repubs out there feel about a democratic president getting his hands on all the power that these new anti-terror laws give him and the executive branch? They gotta know that a democrat will be sitting in the Oval Office in 2004. The republican party is being ruined by this administration's doings, and they'll be handing an awfully big stick to the democrats.

A BuzzFlash Reader

RE: Wouldn't It be Great to Have a President Who Just Lied About Blow Jobs?

Dear BuzzFlash,

Reading this commentary definitely made us feel nostalgic for the "good old days" of the Clinton Administration.

And upon that recollection, it was utterly amazing to think that after a 7+ years investigation, millions and millions of our tax dollars spent on that investigation, not to mention the sheer number of manpower and work hours devoted to it by the FBI and Justice Department, the one thing they could stick to Clinton was that he lied about having sex with an intern. I don't think there is ANY other administration in the 19th or 20th centuries we could say the same thing about.

A BuzzFlash Reader
(taking precautions to protect my citizenship--just in case the "Security Enhancement Act of 2003" gets put into law)

Subj: Rogue State

Dear BuzzFlash

Wouldn't you say that the rest of the World has good cause to declare the United States a "Rogue State" based upon the Bush Cartel's actions -- past, present, and declared intentions?

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Right on, Nick Wride!

Dear BuzzFlash,

Nick Wride is so on target! Several of my friends and I were thinking the same thing! Why is it that one little 'fib' that most men would have made was national headlines, and all the lies we have been hearing weekly from a squatter who wasn't even constitutionally elected can go unnoticed -- as he and his cronies are destroying the constitution and going around the world rattling the sabres?

Another observation -- for eight years peace was breaking out all over the world, the environment was getting cleaned up, and average Americans were beginning to see they could live the American dream. Now we have a world on the verge of a catastrophic war, violence going on all over the place, the environment it once again getting trashed, we are constantly being lied to, and arrogance and nastiness has replaced 'love thy neighbor.'

Too bad we don't have a democracy, anymore.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: New York Alert

Dear BuzzFlash,

Today New York City was elevated to "Orange Alert" status though the nature and source of the threat went undisclosed (as usual with this administration). Presumably this will set off a new round of police barricades and added difficulties for people coming in and going out of the city. At the same time, the local police have refused peace demonstrators permission to march on February 15 and are trying to confine a demonstration which is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people to a rally in a space that will not contain more than about 10,000.

Does it occur to anyone that there may be a connection between these two events?

Jo Ann McNamara

Re: On The Verge of Armageddon: World War III May Just be Around the Corner

Dear BuzzFlash,

I am afraid that you are "right on" about this one. The majority of Americans are either not paying attention or think that this could never happen in the USA or they are not intelligent enough to understand. This is exactly what I have been telling people for the last two years. We are in serious trouble. I think that it is time to impeach this resident. If we can impeach a president for sexual reasons we sure should be able to impeach this resident president.

Keep smilin'!! :)

Carol Brost

Subj: I would like to get your opinion on this

Dear BuzzFlash-

2 days ago I was listening to morning conservative radio , and a guy called in and stated matter of fact that by April 1, we will be paying $1.82 per gallon of gas. Well, that is believable and will probably exceed his mark. THEN, he stated that also by April 1, interest rates will zoom to 12%!!!! He said he could not divulge his sources, but that we all should watch out!! He sounded completely legit, but I still thought he must be a nut case. Then, I started thinking about how the top 2% who are profiting so highly from Bush, then, if they got Baby Bush and Greenspan to somehow manipulate things to soar rates up, then they would make even more money the easy, safe way, getting 10% in CD's. Anyway, my question is have you heard any rumors or stories or read anything out there, that might verify or validate this caller, or do you think him a fruitcake? I was then listing to cnbc yesterday, when I heard the tail end of an interview with an analyst who was saying we needed to be raising interest rates right away. Made me think of the caller of the day before. If that indeed did happen, this economy would completely sink beyond hope, housing market of course would halt, massive more unemployment, no benefits for the unemployed, no more money in the coffers since being raped and pillaged by the Republicans, maybe a good way to get enlisted men for the next WW3? Anyway, please let me know what you think and if you have heard ANYTHING else about this. Thanks for an awesome outlet and for showing me there are a lot more people who see through the smoke too.

Sincerely, Kathie Gatfield

[BuzzFlash Note: We haven't heard of interest rates going up. If we do, we'll post it.]

Subj: War in Iraq

It seems to be that NOW would be a perfect time to bring up Bushes' laughable history as a soldier. Let's mention his draft dodging in the National Guard which he didn't fulfill and got in through Daddy's string pulling--OVER 12,000 OTHERS ON A WAITING LIST. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PLANE HE FLEW THAT WOULD NEVER BE USED IN VIET NAM AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACT HE DID NOT SERVE OUT THE FULL TERM AND IN FACT, GOT ONLY A SLAP ON THE WRIST FOR NOT DOING THIS. (DADDY BAILED HIM OUT AGAIN)!!!!

And while you are at it, let's include Cheney and the leaders of both houses WHO DID NOT SERVE AND WHO DID DODGE THE DRAFT!!!!

While you're at it, I suggest you set a long erroneous rumor on the right path. Clinton was called a Draft Dodger because he did what most of these Republicans did, try to get out of the draft. HOWEVER, he actually went THROUGH THE DRAFT AND IS TECHNICALLY not a draft dodger!!!!! His lottery number was low and he did not serve. (See Koppel report).

LET'S USE THE WAR THAT BUSH INSISTS ON TO GET US OUT OF THIS CLOWN'S LEADERSHIP. A LITTLE MUD SLINGING WITH THE TRUTH AND THE FACTS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS NEEDED HERE.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Fox set a new low for broadcast standards

Dear BuzzFlash:

Like your reader Ed Rzeppa of Illinois, I was stunned to read about the racist slur used on Fox News by Bill O'Reilly.

From the transcript of The O'Reilly Factor, Feb. 6, when O'Reilly interviews Congressman Silvestre Reyes from El Paso about the need to guard the border against illegal immigration:

O'REILLY: We'd save lives because Mexican wetbacks, whatever you want to call them, the coyotes -- they're not going to do what they're doing now, so people aren't going to die in the desert. So we save lives, all right, and we seal it down and make it 100 times harder to come across.

And 79 percent of Americans see that, Congressman. You are in the minority on this one, and so is President Bush. I'll give you the last word.

REYES: Listen, just because we're in the minority doesn't mean we're not right, Bill. I already told you, if you're concerned about narcotics, then we need to focus on the ports of entry. That's where 90 percent of the narcotics...

O'REILLY: The Army will be there as well, Congressman. They'll be there with their high-tech gear, with their nightscopes and everything else.

All right. We appreciate you coming on.

REYES: Thank you, Bill.

If the execs who run Fox News permit racist slurs to be used on their news shows, they should be ashamed of themselves. Even within the context of Fox's conservative slant, where racism often simmers just under the surface, this kind of language is cruel and needless. An apology won't be enough for this racist remark, but it would help.

The cynic in me says O'Reilly did this to call attention to himself and whip up more loyalty in Fox's key neo-klan demographic. I hope, however, it was just a stupid slip of the tongue.

Either way, I agree with Ed and hope other readers and viewers join him in contacting Fox to complain.

Also, notice how O'Reilly said he would give his guest the last word. Did he? Does he ever?

A loyal BuzzFlash reader

Subj: We were asleep and helpless and the next thing I knew planes were flying over our heads

Dear BuzzFlash,

About 4 o'clock this morning I woke to hear the sky pounding with war. Many of the 101st flew over my house heading South from their base in Kentucky.

For someone like me who has never experienced the realities of war, it was an eerie and frightening sound. I couldn't help but think about how innocent victims in war must feel. My children and I were asleep and helpless and the next thing I knew there were loud and powerful planes thundering over our heads. The only difference being, they weren't dropping any bombs.

Nancy Lynn Nagy (TN)
War Kills Children
http://VoteNoWar.org

Subj: A Better President?

Some tried to impeach Clinton because of hatred, jealousy, and vindictiveness. The man's policies were generally good for the country.

Bush and his handlers policies are wreaking a democracy, reducing civil rights, creating an economy geared towards the wealthy, promoting perpetual war, wreaking the environment, alienating the world, accelerating nuclear proliferation, laying the groundwork to establish a theological state, blurring the boundary between the corporate and government, and utterly destroying any vestige of transparency in government. Ideology in complete control over policy.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Re: Article by Steven V. Kane

There was a man who truly thought out what he was iterating. There was depth to his analysis, a fact that was marvelous considering the anger that showed through.

There are a couple of additions to could be placed within the context of his fine piece.

1. He made me think of the fear that has been with me for over fifty-seven years. We were the first troops into Nagasaki after the Japanese surrender. There must have been a small advance party for we left our landing ships and headed straight up the hill to our billeting area in a school (girl's, I believe) just above the French Legation. It was early in September, 1945, and in my advanced dementia some of the details have gone. The Marine unit to which I was attached was the Pioneer Battalion. For a couple of weeks, more or less, the bulk of the group was restricted to our encampment area. I believe that my press pass enabled me to be the only enlisted man to leave the compound during that interim. Each trip back brought a group to our barracks room to find out what I had seen. Skipping the details, it is in my mind that what I saw is something I have not wanted to see again, and has been with me on a regular basis. Now, our President select says that he will not restrict our troops from using a similar weapon. The cold chill up my backbone is now apparently a reality.

2. During the cold war there was constant worry that some rogue national leader might use that dreaded weapon. Little did we realize that growing in our midst was a group of rogues who are now willing to do so.

These items are not meant to criticize Mr. Kane. His article is terrific.

J. Philip Schediwy
Apple Valley, Ca.

Subj: Whopper of the Week

Dear Chatterbox--

So many lies, so little time. This must be a tough week for you because, on almost a daily basis George Bush and his Administration flat out lied to the media and the American public about almost every important aspect of the federal government. As usual, they did so with a straight face, like it is simply business as usual which, come to think of it, it is. The Bushies repeated their Oldie But Goody lies during the budget roll out (the "populist" Bush tax cuts are actually more beneficial to the middle class than to the wealthy/the "average" American receives thousands in tax cuts/the deficit is actually small in historical terms, and is really economically unimportant in any event) Then they created some new ones for Bush himself when you compare the dollar amounts promised for certain popular programs promised during his SOTU with the actual dollars proposed in the budget itself. The Columbia disaster resulted in Bush (and the entire Administration at first) lying about having visited the Houston NASA headquarters previously to show his support for the space program. Bush and Powell repeated previous arguable "lies" about Saddam's "rocket tubes" and close alliance with al-Qaida, despite polls showing almost 60% believe Bush would lie and misrepresent the facts to further his Iraq crusade. Lies about federal tax policy, federal spending policy, federal budget policy, foreign policy---that's about all there is.

However, despite all this deceitful material to choose from, my personal recommendation for Whopper of the Week goes to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on the 2/9 CNN Capital Gang who repeated the frequent, but unsubstantiated (and in fact actually disproven by New Republic and a cast of thousands) claim that, during the campaign, Bush said he would utilize deficit spending only in the event of war or economic recession, and he was faced with both (through no fault of his own of course).

Thompson's Whopper gets my vote because not only is it a demonstrable falsehood, but it is so demonstrably false that Bush himself and his spokespeople have stopped claiming it is true. It takes real gall on Thompson's part, and the skill of an Olympic Champion liar, to flat-out lie on national television with a straight face in the presence of 4 supposedly knowledgeable national media people each of whom should have known the true facts, and embarrassed Thompson with them.

Thank you for your consideration.

Michael Baxter, Dover, Ohio

Subj: Meet the Press and an idea

Dear BuzzFlash,

Schwarzkopf falls in line with the administration, both Albright and he thought Powell's presentation was on point. No one to speak for anti-war point of view given a chance to speak so far.

Realize these injunctions would not have standing in a court of law, but if a coordinated effort to deliver an injunction calling for a halt to war could be delivered to at least one federal district court within each circuit court nationwide with lots of press coverage (maybe only the foreign press would show), it would let the world know where a lot of the people stand on the war issue.

A BuzzFlash Reader

I bet this poll lasted all of a minute before Blitzer had it deep sixed!

Wolf Blitzer Poll. Which president do you most admire? :

Ronald Reagan - 22% 2479 votes
George Herbert Walker Bush - 1% 166 votes
Bill Clinton - 56% 6255 votes
George W. Bush - 20% 2232 votes

Total: 11,132 votes

From: http://the-hamster.com/ (Scroll down)

Hey horse.

Regarding the commentary by Nancy Lynn Nagy referring to Daschle as an obstructionist to Democrat party ideas, one should learn a lesson here; Democrats should never elect as a leader, someone from a red (Bush conservative) state, as he will always have one eye on his conservative constituents.

JohnW
Bensalem, PA.

Dear Fox News,

Dear BuzzFlash,

My husband is a proud U.S. citizen, who was born in France. I do not appreciate Brit Hume, who clearly worships Bush and evidently supports the genocide of all innocent Iraqis, referring to the French prime minister as a "poodle barking in France". How dare he! If it had not been for Lafayette, we would be under British rule. Message to Brit Hume: Brit, do you know your history, or has the botox in your face affected your brain?

Martisa

Subj: Gloria LaLumia's media watch piece today

Dear BuzzFlash,

I was happy to read Gloria LaLumia's take today on Wash Week in Review. I've really missed her while she was doing World Media. She demonstrated her usual insight and put her finger right on the problem with the US media stance on the Powell/Blair plagiarized dossier. Today's article in the UK Mirror (Article Link) was the first I've seen that expresses the fury of the authors of the stolen, non-secret, and outdated material.

The nonreaction of the US media reminds me of their similar behavior on Joe McCarthy's "revelations." Isn't the first duty of the media to assess the reliability of what they call "news"? Or do they only do that when the source isn't Republican?

Sincerely,

Elaine Shinbrot

Dear BuzzFlash,

We held a huge 5,000 people strong Peace Rally in Ann Arbor, MI yesterday, Sat. 8, and we formed the largest people peace sign. It was organized by the Ann Arbor Area Committee for Peace. So far I have not seen any information or photos on your site, so I'm forwarding this information to you, just in case that none of these people have as I'm sure Buzz readers will be interested in the Peace sign photo. The local Fox news covered it pretty well for a couple of minutes but the other news channels devoted only seconds of coverage.

Photos of the peace sign can be seen at the following links:

http://aapeace.org or

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bgoodsel/post911/HumanPeaceSign.jpg

Also some photos at http://kaeding.homelinux.org/photos/PeaceParade2003feb08/

This person has 400 at this address http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tjallin/A2%20Peace%20Rally/index.htm

Many thanks,

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Bush and Space Center

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/02/04/sprj.colu.bush.spacecenter.ap/

Remember when Gore was skewered by the media for not being able to pinpoint exactly which trip he took to Texas to tour flood damage with FEMA?

I'm sure Bush will get the same treatment from the super sleuths in our press corps.

Jeremy Warren

Subj: We must all realize that this administration is taking us to WORLD WAR III

Steven Kane has written an article that I believe most people are afraid to talk about...I believe Studs Terkel has done some study about this possibility of a nuclear World War III and I think it might be worthwhile for those of you who have the ability to do research and write about their findings should do more writing on this subject...Then the war mongers may see that there is a possibility for us to be taken back to the Stone Age if nuclear weapons are used to fight this dreaded WORLD WAR III....... humbly submitted by a senior citizen....

Mary L Timmons

Subj: "wetbacks"

Mr. O'Reilly,

There you go embarrassing yourself and Fox network again. You're entitled to your continual pro-militaristic jingoism just as you are entitled to your ignorance (it being your birthright as an American and all). Have you ever heard of "the ugly American"? That's you in a nutshell. You and your kind. But in all fairness I must say this is probably the first time you've lived up to your "no spin" spiel. Your true colors are showing.

You're a hoot to watch,

No fan of yours,

Eunice from California

Subj: Bush is Being BOLD Again

Dear BuzzFlash,

In the Washington Post today, you've linked a story about Bush making sweeping cuts to programs for the poor. Although the story is somewhat informative, the headline is "Bush Seeks to Recast Federal Ties to the Poor". Not the more appropriate "Bush Plans Cutbacks in Social Programs" or your "Bush War Against the Poor Just Getting Started". Down in the story, we are told how BOLD this new policy is. Twice.

Even worse, the same story was reprinted locally (with much less of the damning explanatory information in the second half of the article ... the excerpt is just long enough to include both of the "BOLD" references as well as one "breathtaking") in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram under the ridiculous headline: "Bush plans bold revamping of poverty programs". That's right, Bush is being "BOLD" again. Everybody duck.

Doug Ingram

Dear BuzzFlash,

But if all goes according to plan, on the first night of an attack against Iraq, lights will blink out, computers will melt down and phones will go silent. Saddam and his lieutenants will be left shivering in silent darkness, alone and waiting to die, report Assistant Managing Editor Evan Thomas and National Security Correspondent John Barry in the February 17 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, February 10).

This is the problem with the fucking media--

Look closely at the highlighted text, you'll see that there are no quotes which means that this is what the jerkoff from newsweek is saying---bear in mind that unless the asshole is Nostradamus he has no idea what saddam will be doing. Perhaps Saddam will be hiding miles underground and have a gasoline powered generator also note that he says nothing about what will happen to innocent civilians in hospitals who are on electrical life support systems. Saddam is evil, but who knows what will happen--yet Newsweek is telling us they can predict the future.

stevie g

Dear BuzzFlash,

With all that's happening with war right now and the insanity of the Bush Adm.'s position, I remembered (and wonder if other BuzzFlash readers do as well) the strange phrase from the 2000 Presidential debates that Bush said and repeated several times:

"I believe the role of the military is to fight and win war and therefore prevent war from happening in the first place." (1st debate)

"...a commander in chief that sets the mission to fight and win war and prevent war from happening in the first place." (1st debate)

"I think our troops ought to be used to fight and win war." (2nd debate)

"Our military is meant to fight and win war. That's what it's meant to do." (2nd debate)

"Should I be fortunate enough to earn your confidence, the mission of the United States military will be to be prepared and ready to fight and win war. And therefore prevent war from happening in the first place." (3rd debate)

I remember thinking at the time that it lacked any intelligent logic, but that it was par for the course with this illiterate frat-boy. It was deeply strange, though, that he repeated it, that no one on his campaign staff tried to correct his language for the next debate. Is it possible that this is what these neo-cons believe and that, to them, it makes perfect sense? If so, God help us!!!!

A BuzzFlash Reader

To CNN:

Subj: News Outlet?

What's with the flag graphic on the bottom of the screen. Are you a news outlet or a government propaganda outlet. I expect this kind of thing from fox, not cnn. I noticed also that you ran Bush speaking at the GOP retreat live, This was clearly a political speech, who is doing your editorial decisions--Karl Rove. Plus-- your promo for Paula Zahn asks if Blix going to Baghdad brought us closer to war--FUNNY I thought Blix was trying to avert war by going to Baghdad Why the pro war spin--looking for wartime ratings to put you back on top.

CNN is now officially a disgrace--and I will no longer watch until you remove the flag graphic and stop your pro-war, pro-Bush bias. I understand that Wolf wants his Presidential kneepads, but come on--If he gets off of his knees he won't need them. I want honest reporting not government spin. STOP THE PROPAGANDA--

thank you,

stevie gardiner
somerdale,nj

Subj: NY Peace March links

Citing "terrorist threats," New York government officials are seeking to ban what promises to be the biggest peace march in New York in decades. The national peace movement needs to respond!

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=801

You can also sign an online petition urging the Mayor and Police to issue permits for a march through Midtown.

Laurie Manis

Great article, Gloria.

We love hearing from you..and saying just the same thing we see in every "Yes man" for this administration...They are just hopeless, if anyone thinks they are going to hear a bad word.

I have just heard (02/09) on all the am shows that the inspectors agree that Hussein is not a threat, and is complying!

Shirley............St.Louis

Subj: Spies in Revolt

"Tony Blair and George Bush are encountering an unexpected obstacle in their campaign for war against Iraq –their own intelligence agencies."

http://news.independent.co.uk/low_res/story.jsp?story=376732&host=3&dir=508

Here in conservative Midland, MI, we had 250 people come out for a peace vigil in January. I expect we'll double that this week. Our newspaper ad campaign is getting national attention and is being disseminated by Moveon.org (scroll to bottom here)

http://www.moveon.org/news/1012.html

Peter Sinclair

Subj: NY Dems Re-Elect Chairwoman

http://newsobserver.com/news/nc/story/2186725p-2069152c.html

last paragraph:

Also Saturday, about 200 executive committee members stayed to approve a resolution opposing a war in Iraq and calling for more inspections, diplomacy and time to allow Iraq to meet compliance standards set out by United Nations resolutions. The resolution was sponsored by Dan Besse, a Winston-Salem alderman and state delegate from Forsyth County.

(stay tuned for pressure on Edwards).

Vivian

Subj: Bravo

Dear BuzzFlash,

All I want to say is Bravo to Stephen V. Kane. What an insightful article. I have sent it to a number of my friends as well. I only hope that the article becomes one that we may discuss in the future as something that might have been.

Regards,

J H Robbins

Dear BuzzFlash,

Thanks for your wonderful and effective postings! I've been real busy forwarding them and alerting people to read the BuzzFlash page & listen to Ray's show. Please see the material below that a friend of mine sent me -- you may want to post this to BuzzFlash & be in contact with these people. Any news on what the "top secret" object is regarding the space shuttle or, if the troops found it yet? The NASA Administrator, Dittmore (?) said in the last press conference that all future press conferences are going to be held by the private investigators headed by the retired Navy officer -- I think that this move is an attempt to seal off info. from the people.

Is there any way for people to cheer the leaders of France, Germany & Russia on? I think that it is important to let them know that Americans are thankful for what they are doing! Maybe you could post something on BuzzFlash so people can do that.

I happened to be watching C-SPAN and saw Rumsfeld going on and then Mr. Fisher of Germany apparently shocked the heck out of Rumsfeld by strongly and boldly objecting to the his bully attack. The look on Rumsfeld's face reminded me of a dog that had just been told "NO, BAD DOG!" Rumsfeld looked like a big, dopey dog whose ears had just been pinned back. Can you possibly locate a still and post it? It was just precious!

Keep the faith, you guys are doing a wonderful job!

Barb Mauz

>Here are four things to do for those in the United States:
>
> 1. Attend the massive demonstration against war in New York City on
> February 15, or in San Francisco on February 16. For more information,
> see: <http:www.unitedforpeace.org>.
>
> 2. Call your senators (1-800-839-5276 or 202-224-3121), and urge them to
> support Senate Resolution 32, which calls for another Congressional vote
> before the United States commences a war. (To see the text of the
> resolution, go to <http://thomas.loc.gov> and type in "SRes 32" (no
> quotes) in the box for the bill number.)
>
> 3. Make sure your city council has passed a resolution supporting peace.
> 67 cities, including Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Detroit and
> Washington, D.C., already have. Check out <http://www.citiesforpeace.org>.
>
> 4. Give a day's worth of time to stop the war. If you're not sure what
> to do, sign up with Moveon.org (go to: <http://moveon.org/giveaday>) and
> they will supply you with plenty of ideas.

Dear BuzzFlash,

"We will lead a coalition to disarm him and I mean it". ""Time is running out." "The game is over." "I'm sick and tired of playing games."

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm "sick and tired" of listening to George Bush's tired, worn-out platitudes. Over and over he repeats them. I guess they figure they're safest sending him out everyday with the same phrases, rather than taxing his very limited intelligence with new ones.

There is a certain desperation surfacing with Bush and his cronies. They've been exposed for twisting and distorting the truth and telling outright lies. Colin Powell, using a report that was plagiarized from a graduate student's paper, was certainly not his finest hour. The U.N. has countered their so-called "intelligence" on many occasions. This desperation to attack Iraq, no matter what, is beginning to make Bush look like a ranting, raving lunatic. He is consumed!

I am convinced that no matter what Hans Blix says on Feb. 14, George Bush is going to attack Iraq. Nothing will stand in the way of Junior giving the command to attack Iraq.

Gigi

Subj: Aussie PM

Dear Buzz,

My so called "LEADER" Little Johnny Howard the Aussie Pm is by now in Washington licking GW's boots and telling him that we Aussies would like to be considered as the 51st state of the USA and when it comes to war with Iraq we are "ALL THE WAY WITH THE USA"

Just to let your readers know 85-90% of all Aussies polled last week said NO to war and we are quite happy being the LAND DOWN UNDER with our own culture.

This past week we have even had your Ambassador telling the Labour Opposition that GW is very unhappy at Mark Latham [House of Rep Member] and others in the Labour Party when they called GW Bush the worst President and the dumbest most illiterate and uneducated President in History. Mark Latham also had the guts to called our PM a LICK ARSE of GW BUSH Your Ambassador has caused uproar here in Australia by poking his nose into domestic politics.

Sound familiar. Your Administration CAN'T KEEP OUT OF ANY COUNTRIES GOVT FRIEND OR FOE WHEN THEY GO AGAINST GW.GOD ALMIGHTY BUSH.

Little Johnny apparently got the Red Carpet treatment because he said yes to Bush but the rest of us Aussies won't forget how Bush and Co has little trouble in forgetting Australia even exists when it comes to Trade and our farm products selling in the USA.

What is it they say about Friends in need are friends indeed. I only hope that we here in Australia are not going to be a target for terror BIG TIME after this stupid Oil war because we quite like being known as a tolerant and friendly people.

Murdoch said he liked being a US citizen in preference to an Aussie. Perhaps you would like Howard, too!

SAY NO TO WAR.

Chris from OZ

Subj: "the only thing we have to fear"

Dear BuzzFlash,

Seventy years ago, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, at his inauguration as President of the United States, stood before a frightened and weary American people and said, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." His goal was to reassure the American people that, at last, there was someone in the White House who was on their side and dedicated to helping them.

Fast forward. Seventy years later, we have a president and an administration that rides fear like a hobbyhorse, generating more and more fear, and exerting more and more control over the American people.

We are frightened and weary now also but, by contrast, the man in today's White House does not seek to still our fears but to inflame them.

Daily or weekly "alerts," without guidance as to what we can or should do, serve only to ratchet up the fear levels.

Either our president should stop cutting the funds for first-responders -- such as police, fire and emergency personnel -- (and stop giving tax breaks to rich folks), or he should stop issuing "alerts" about which we are powerless to act. He should add funding to increase the ranks of our fire, police and emergency personnel.

Further, our president should beef up funding, instead of cutting it, for airport security, ports security, security at power and electrical plants -- including, and especially, nuclear power plants.

Our president is asking all but the very rich to make sacrifices for the upcoming war with Iraq, but he continues cutting taxes for the rich and reducing revenues -- and telling us to Be Very Afraid.

I am afraid. I'm just not afraid of the same things he is afraid of.

Messrs. Bush and Powell use the Sept. 11 terrorist attack to fan the flames of fear, but they neglect to tell us that the intelligence community has warned that our invasion of Iraq will exacerbate the terrorism threat, not reduce it.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subj: Axis of Justice

http://www.axisofjustice.org/

February 9

1950 -- Sen. Joseph McCarthy, in Wheeling, West Virginia, accuses State Department employees of Communist Party affiliation. "I have here in my hand," he states, "the names of 205 men that were known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping the policy of the State Department." Some years later, he confided the paper was actually an old laundry list.

Markoff Charney

Subj: French-German plan to send U.N. troops to Baghdad WILL BE introduced into the U.N. on Friday.

Dear BuzzFlash,

"It looks like a way just to avoid war, not disarm Iraq." - John McCain commenting on the French-German plan to send U.N. troops to Baghdad, which will be introduced into the U.N. on Friday, FOX NEWS reports.

Well, I wonder if Dubya can hold his breath till Friday.......I just don't think so.......I just can't see the controlling Rove allowing Bush to be subjected to U.N. debate on placing U.N. troops in Baghdad. That would KILL the BushPlan.

......................r o n

Subj: THE INTERMINABLE BEAT

Dear BuzzFlash,

The interminable beat goes on. With little fanfare and even less coverage, the GAO has dropped its suit against Dick Cheney. The 'Darkside' wins again. One of the reasons given is the Republicans hold all three branches of power. The logical question should be, why couldn't more be done when the Democrats controlled the Senate and Cheney was defying the order? It's a rhetorical question but one that should continue to be asked. Meanwhile, Cheney continues to get medical treatment, most Americans can only dream of. It also seems to be forgotten that Cheney was conveniently building a bunker. Current events are beginning to explain the urgency.

Even more important to all Americans and also just a blip in news reports is the Justice Department seeking more power to arrest suspected terrorists and hold them in secret. If John Ashcroft continues to get his way, I could conceivably be arrested and hidden away for writing this justified dissent of governmental actions. This administration is straight out of "1984" and "Dr. Strangelove."

Despite the biased polls that continue to say most Americans support the non-elected President, I believe most Americans know him for what he is. Still, our voices remain too silent and little by little our wonderful country is being taken from us.

Mel Spiegel, from Jupiter